Wednesday, May 10, 2006

A. B. Yehoshua: Redux

The full session on the Jewish future, sponsored by the American Jewish Committee, is now on-line. It's a stimulating, maddening and enlightening experience. A. B. Yehoshua comes off even worse than he was portrayedinthemedia. I was especially bemused by his categorical assertion that Israelis do not try to imitate anyone else, as opposed to the American Jew, who wishes to become an American. No, I was not bemused. I was stunned. Where does he live? Does he not go out of his house? Does he not read the paper? Does he not watch television or listen to the radio? Israelis, desperately trying to fill their identity void. In trying to do so they pall-mall sieze on everything that the West markets, or the East purveys.How can someone touted as a leading Israeli intellectual be so obtuse and soout of touch?